[NATIONAL]

Cabinet approves opening of Indian Mission in Lithuania

The Union Cabinet chaired by PM has accorded approval to the opening of a new Indian Mission in Lithuania, which will help expand the relationship between the countries including diplomatic footprint, deepen political relations, and strategic cooperation. Indian Mission in Lithuania will also better assist the Indian community and protect their interests, the statement read. Enhancement of India’s diplomatic presence will, inter-alia, provide market access for Indian companies. On Tue, External Affairs Minister exchanged views with the Lithuanian counterpart on global and regional issues and discussed bilateral economic and cultural cooperation. The commercial ties have grown in recent years and the bilateral trade between the two stood at $485 million in 2020-21. (here)

India-US has ‘foundational partnerships’ going forward over next decades, countries relooking relationship with Russia: Blinken

India and US have the potential to be one of the most important and foundational partnerships that we have going forward over the next decades, said US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wed, before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs hearing. And of course, in the case of India, there’s a relationship (with Russia) that goes back decades. Russia, for India, was out of necessity, a partner of choice when we were not in a position to meet a partner. “Now we’re investing in that effort. There is a growing strategic convergence between US-India and of course, China is a big part of that,” he added. (here)

Offset requirements in India major hurdle in defense trade, says former Pentagon official

Offset requirements in India pose a major challenge to the defense trade with the US, a former top Pentagon official Ellen Lord told members of the House Armed Services Committee. “…We have never been able to get the overarching security agreements with India that we would hope,” told. The US is in talks with India on several multi-billion key defense sales, including the guardian drones, which jumped almost zero to $18 Bn in the last decade. Major American companies like Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and General Atomics are eyeing the Indian market now, which is projected to grow exponentially over the next decade. Lord conceded that this delay is because of the bureaucracy in the Pentagon and the State Department. (here)

Delhi a strategic partner for Berlin within Indo-Pacific framework, says German minister

ThePrint-New Delhi is a strategic partner for Berlin within the Indo-Pacific framework, and Germany will seek to take bilateral ties with India to the next level during PM Modi’s visit next week, Tobias Lindner, Minister of State, FO, Germany, has said. Lindner said the Olaf Scholz govt has made the Indo-Pacific framework its “topmost priority” and, hence, enhancing defense and security ties with India will be discussed between both sides during Modi’s visit. Germany was the 2^nd country after France to come out with its Indo-Pacific policy under the former Angela Merkel admin in Sept 2020. “We will not do this to threaten anyone but we want to uphold the international rules-based order,” Lindner said, hinting at the fact that Germany will continue to give strategic significance to India as it did in Jan this year when Berlin sent its frigate ‘Bayern’ to the Indo-Pacific region. He said Germany will “not teach and preach” India on what position it should take in the Russia-Ukraine war. (here)

Visit of MoS (External Affairs) to Panama, Honduras, and Chile from Apr 28-May 05

Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture of India Meenakashi Lekhi, MoS(ML) will be on an official visit to Panama (Apr 28 – May 1^st), Honduras (May 1-3), and Chile from 28 Apr – 05 May. 2. During her visit to Panama, she will meet with the Min of Foreign Affairs and Min of Culture. The two sides will also sign Agreements on the Cultural Exchange Program and Gainful Employment for dependents of officials of diplomatic mission/post. In Honduras, will call on the President. She will also meet the Min of Foreign Affairs to discuss various bilateral, regional, and international issues. She will also lay the foundation stone for the Jamastran Valley Irrigation project funded by GoI through Lines of Credit. In Santiago, MOS will meet with the Chilean Foreign Min and Min for Culture, Arts and Heritage. Chile is the 5^th trading partner of India in the LAC region. India-Chile total trade for the year 2021-22 was USD 2.35 bn, as compared to USD 1.47 bn in 2020-21. (here)

Ministry of External Affairs on a regular Press briefing

MEA: We are aware of the COVID situation in Chinese cities like Shanghai…Not the opportune time for the resumption of issuance of tourist visas for China. China themselves has not issued visas to us; have been suspended (visa issuance to India) since 2020…Not the right time to discuss the issuance of tourist visas for China. MEA rebutted Pakistan criticizing PM Modi’s J&K visit. MEA says Islamabad has “no locus standi” to comment. “This incident calls for undifferentiated stance” on terrorism says MEA on Karachi attack.

Need to prepare for intense, small duration operations: IAF Chief

The current geopolitical situation necessitates the Indian Air Force to prepare for intense and small duration operations at a short notice, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari said on Thu, while addressing a seminar. “In the force, space, and time continuum, there would be a need for us to prepare for short swift wars as well as be ready for a long drawn standoff akin to what we are seeing in eastern Ladakh,” he said. Air Chief said the recent experiences of the IAF, as well as the evolving geopolitical scenario, mandate it to be operationally and logistically responsive at all times. The IAF chief said logistics support in such a scenario would be extremely challenging because the force has a fairly vast and diversified inventory. Air Chief said logistics have been identified as a critical tool for the nation’s economic progress, noting that there would be a need to cater for resource bridging and transportation to deal with contingencies. (here)

World Bank approves USD 47mn for India’s Mission Karmayogi program

ANI – The World Bank has approved a USD 47 million project to support the Govt of India’s Mission Karmayogi, a national program to build civil service capacity, the bank said in a statement. There are nearly 18 million civil servants employed across India, with approx two-thirds at the state govt and local authority levels. The Bank’s financing aims to support the Govt’s objectives of enhancing the functional and behavioral competencies of approximately 4 million civil servants. It will focus on 3 components: the development and implementation of competency frameworks; the development of an integrated learning platform; and program monitoring, evaluation, and management. (here)

NPR required to update birth, death, and migration: MHA

ANI – To incorporate the changes due to birth, death, and migration, there is a need to update the National Population Register (NPR) again, according to the 2020-21 annual report of the Ministry of Home Affairs released on Wed. The report read that the govt decided to update the NPR database in the entire country except the state of Assam along with the Houselisting Phase of Census 2021, from Apr to Sept 2020, as per the convenience of the State/ UT govt. Due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the work of NPR up-dating and other related field activities have been postponed until further orders. The govt prepared an NPR of all the ‘usual residents’ in the country in 2010 by collecting specific information about each resident. The NPR is prepared under various provisions of the Citizenship Rules, 2003, framed under the Citizenship Act, 1955, the report read. Notably, protests were witnessed against the NPR, National Register of Citizens, and Citizenship Amendment Act in different parts of the country in 2019. (here)

J-K: 2 terrorists involved in attacks on migrant laborers killed in Pulwama encounter

ANI – One more terrorist has been killed in the ongoing encounter in the Mitrigam area of Pulwama, said police on Thu. An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces n the Mitrigam area of Pulwama on Wed. A terrorist was killed earlier during the encounter. Both the terrorists killed in the encounter had been involved in a series of attacks on outside laborers in the district in the month of Mar-Apr 2022, said IGP Kashmir, adding that 2 to 3 are of Jaish-e-Mohammad more in the trap. 62 Terrorists were killed in Kashmir by security forces in the first 4 months. 15 among them were Pakistani nationals, including, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (39); Jaish-e-Muhammad (15); Hizbul Mujahideen (6); and Al-Badr (2). (here) 3 were arrested for trafficking arms to terrorists. The Police also recovered 1 Chinese pistol along with a magazine and 14 live cartridges from the arrested. Police also say that more recoveries and arrests are expected in the coming days. Traces of RDX and a nitrate compound were found at the site of the explosion that took place close to PM Narendra Modi’s rally venue in Jammu on Sun. Police had initially called the crater formed “the result of a meteorite impact”. The explosion occurred at a field in Jammu’s Laliana village, 12 km away from the venue for PM Modi’s rally in J&K. PM Modi visited J&K on Sun. In Palli Panchayat in the Samba district, he addressed Gram Sabhas across the country on National Panchayati Raj Day.

Maharashtra: 90 swords seized from SUV, 4 arrested; BJP MLA claims swords came from Congress-ruled Rajasthan

The Maharashtra police on Thu seized 90 swords from a Scorpio in Dhule and arrested 4 men. BJP MLA Ram Kadam claimed that the swords came into the state from Congress-ruled Rajasthan. He has demanded action against those involved in the case from Chief Minister. Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police, said that the SUV was on its way from Chittorgarh in Rajasthan. After the police were informed about their arrival, the vehicle was intercepted from the Songir village.

Shah, Jharkhand Governor discusses state issues amid corruption charges against Soren govt

ANI – In the backdrop of corruption allegations against Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, of misusing his power and authority to benefit himself, his family, and close aide, state Governor Ramesh Bais on Wed met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and apprised him of the prevailing situation in the region, sources said. The matter pertains to the grant of in-principle approval for the stone quarrying lease in CM’s name on govt land on the outskirts of state capital Ranchi, which was cleared by the mines and environment departments, headed by the CM himself. The Election Commission of India is already probing if it amounted to the CM holding an “office of profit”, which could invite his disqualification from the assembly membership. Notably, both the mines and the industries departments are under Soren who has elected from the Barhait constituency in 2019, had applied for a stone mining lease on plot number 482 of Angara block in Ranchi district, nearly 0.88 acres, 13 years ago. (here)

[NEIGHBORHOOD]

With free Indo-Pacific on agenda, Biden to travel to South Korea, Japan in May

ANI – In his first trip to the region after taking the office, US President Joe Biden will visit S Korea and Japan from May 20 to 24 to “further deepen ties and to advance the current administration’s solid commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific“. “This trip will advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s rock-solid commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and U.S. treaty alliances with the Republic of Korea and Japan,” the White House stated. The WH said this visit will build on more than a year of intensive diplomacy with the Indo-Pacific, including the US-ASEAN Special Summit on May 12-13 in Washington, DC. In each country, Biden will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts. The leaders will discuss opportunities to deepen our vital security relationships, enhance economic ties, and expand our close cooperation to deliver practical results. In Tokyo, President Biden will also meet with the leaders of the Quad grouping of Australia, Japan, India, and the US on May 24^th (here)

China and Iran set to step up defense cooperation

China and Iran have vowed to step up defense cooperation, including more military drills, as the two countries move closer together under growing pressure from the US. In a meeting with Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe on Wed, Iran’s armed forces chief of staff Mohammad Bagheri said the two nations will work together on military training and exchange of knowledge, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported. Wei was visiting Tehran on Wed, where he also met President Ebrahim Raisi and described his trip as taking place against the backdrop of the “current turbulent international situation”. Diplomatic and military analysts said Beijing is keen to strengthen ties with opponents of the US following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. (here)

Uyghur internment camp survivors demonstrate outside the UN office in Geneva

ANI – Uyghur activists, many of whom are survivors of the internment camps set up by China in the Xinjiang region on Mon demonstrated for a week outside the United Nations compound in Geneva demanding a meeting with the UN human rights chief, a media report said. The activists also demanded that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet issue an overdue report detailing rights abuses in Xinjiang, Radio Free Asia reported. Bachelet had announced last month that she had reached an agreement with the Chinese govt for a visit in May. The Uyghurs want Bachelet to release the human rights report before she visits China. They offered to accompany the president on the trip, the report said. “If we don’t accompany them, China will play a lot of games not to show them the reality,” she added. Gulbahar Jelilova further said she could show the U.N. team a location where Uyghurs were executed and a hospital that removed organs from dead prisoners. (here)

US trade report accuses China of using intellectual property laws to dominate markets

China appears intent on using its intellectual property laws to unfairly dominate markets and, while Beijing has made some progress strengthening patent, copyright, and criminal statutes, implementation, and enforcement remain insufficient, according to a US govt report released on Wed. “China must provide a level playing field for IP protection and enforcement,” said the US Trade Representative office’s annual Special 301 report, which catalogs intellectual property infringement by trade partners. The document noted that China is the leading source of counterfeit and pirated goods ranging from cosmetics and fertilizer to medicines, accounting for 83% of all products seized in the US in 2020 for these violations. China was among 6 other countries — Argentina, Chile, India, Indonesia, Russia, and Venezuela — put on a ‘priority watch list’ (here)

US bill to help Taiwan regain WHO status passes Congress sent to Biden

Legislation calling on the US State Department to submit a plan to help Taiwan regain its observer status at the WHO is heading to President Biden’s desk after it was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives. The bill, voted for by 425 representatives, passed the Senate in Aug and Congressional aides said they expected Biden to sign the measure into law. Taiwan is excluded from most global organizations, such as the WHO (in 2017), because of the objections of China. The measure directs the Secretary of State to establish a strategy for obtaining observer status at the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the WHO. Taiwan has raised its alert level since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, wary that Beijing might make a similar move on the island, though it has reported no signs this is about to happen. Similar concerns have fuelled efforts in the US to support Taiwan, such as increasing its participation in international organizations like the WHO.

IHC directs the interior secretary to develop a mechanism to end Baloch students’ profiling

The Islamabad High Court on Thu directed the interior secretary to develop a mechanism to “stop what is happening with Baloch students” and ensure that their ethnic profiling is ended. IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah issued the directives while hearing a petition filed by the right activist and lawyer against harassment of Baloch students who were protesting in Islamabad last month over the disappearance of their missing colleague. In the previous hearing, Justice Minallah had asked President to dispel the impression of ethnic profiling. When the hearing resumed today, Hazir told the court the president had given assurances to the students. However, Bebgar Imdad, a student of the National University of Modern Languages in Islamabad, was picked up from Punjab University yesterday, she said. (here)

Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami (Balochistan) Maulana Abdul Haq Hashmi has said that not giving constitutional rights to the people of Balochistan, not providing employment, education, and health facilities, and letting them face check posts and police stations are creating problems and worries. Military dictators, military operations, and opportunistic rulers destroyed Balochistan. The youth of Balochistan are heading towards the mountains (taking up weapons) due to the power-hungry leaders, the failure of the rulers, negligence, incompetence, and abuse. If the resources of Balochistan are spent on Balochistan, then the rights of the people will be delivered and the feeling of deprivation will decrease. (Jasarat)